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Connection with former Giants turned Redskins helping Landon Collins

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 01: Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #41 of the New York Giants reacts with teammate strong safety Landon Collins #21 of the New York Giants after sacking quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins (not pictured) in the second quarter at FedExField on January 1, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 01: Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #41 of the New York Giants reacts with teammate strong safety Landon Collins #21 of the New York Giants after sacking quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins (not pictured) in the second quarter at FedExField on January 1, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Landon Collins may be new to the Washington Redskins. But playing alongside some former New York Giants teammates is making his transition easier.

The Washington Redskins made a big splash move in free agency by signing Landon Collins to a six-year, $84 million deal in free agency. That was their major move, but they did also add some other players to the team that happen to share a connection with Collins.

The team’s other two big free-agent acquisitions, Ereck Flowers and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, have both spent time on the New York Giants in recent seasons. Flowers was there for just over three years until being cut by the team last year while Rodgers-Cromartie played with the squad for four years before spending half of last season with the Oakland Raiders.

While Flowers and Rodgers-Cromartie arrived mostly to add depth to the Redskins, it has also had a positive effect on Collins as he transitions to his new team.

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“It’s definitely made it easier,” Collins said of his transition to the Redskins to Riggo’s Rag. “I’ve been with Ereck Flowers and DRC for what, four years? And just knowing those guys and playing with those guys, we kinda know how to play off each other.”

Collins specifically referenced his work with DRC as being strong when the two started side by side in the Giants’ defense. The duo knew how to mesh well and that’s part of the reason that Rodgers-Cromartie and Collins were able to rattle off strong seasons in three consecutive years in New York.

Collins is hoping that his chemistry with Rodgers-Cromartie can help the secondary as they all look to come together in 2019. But Collins already knows what his role will be in the secondary.

“I’m going to be the headhunter,” said Collins. “I’m gonna make sure these guys don’t have to tackle nobody as much as possible and make sure they just have to go get the ball. And make sure they have to cover the guys and I get tips and overthrows.

“It works hand in hand. I do something for them, they gotta do something for me.”

Collins will soon have a chance to start working with his fellow Redskins and he will look to find chemistry with guys like Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Montae Nicholson, and Fabian Moreau. But if things start out slow, he will always have his former Giants teammate, Rodgers-Cromartie, to rely on.

And, of course, having some fellow former Giants on the roster will make the Redskins’ two matchups with the New York-based teams all the more interesting. And as Collins indicated, he will be ready to pour every ounce of effort that he has into that game.

“(It’s going to be) very grueling, very angry, and (I’m) just going out there and play my guts out,” said Collins.

Next. Collins ready for the challenge of filling Sean Taylor's shoes. dark

Collins’ first chance to square off against his former squad will come in Week 4. The Redskins will take on the Giants in Collins’ homecoming at MetLife Stadium.

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